thereby. Al-Hakim likewise declared it authentic, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him.

As for the other chain, it is what al-Tabarani narrated in al-Awsat (3/315, University facsimile), through Ziyad ibn Khaythamah, from al-Suddi, from Abu Umarah al-Khaywani, from Ali, with an abbreviated wording: “I went out with the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, and he did not pass by any stone or tree without its greeting him.”

I say: This is an authentic chain of transmission; its narrators are known and trustworthy, contrary to al-Haythami’s statement: “I did not identify the Successor Abu Umarah al-Khaywani, while the rest of its narrators are trustworthy.” I say: Rather, he is known. The name is al-Khaywani, with the dotted kha, a genealogical attribution to Khaywan ibn Zayd, his remote ancestor. He was Abd Khayr ibn Zayd al-Hamdani, a trustworthy narrator well known for narrating from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. Thus, the hadith is authentic, and all praise is due to Allah.

Supporting this hadith is the Prophet’s statement, blessings and peace be upon him: “I know of a stone in Mecca that used to greet me before I was sent, and I know it now.” Muslim and Ibn Hibban narrated it, and al-Baghawi declared it authentic in Sharh al-Sunnah (13/287/3709), as did others. Its documentation is given in al-Rawd al-Nadir (185). Some weak narrators have distorted it, saying: “on the nights when I was sent.” I have explained this thoroughly in a study included in al-Da'ifah under no. 6574.

2671 — “Whoever frightens the people of Medina, Allah will frighten him.”

Ibn Hibban (1039) narrated it through Abd al-Rahman ibn Ata, from Muhammad ibn Jabir ibn Abdullah, from his father, who said: The Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, said it. I say: This chain of transmission is sound as supporting evidence and corroboration, and its narrators are trustworthy, except that Ibn